Heat conditioning device underneath a shelf and catering table thereof

ABSTRACT

A device for the local heat conditioning around a shelf is disclosed including at least a heat conditioning member provided with heating means and with an air moving fan, mounted underneath said shelf through a support structure fixed to the lower surface of said shelf, wherein said heat conditioning member is mounted so that said fan generates an airflow directed substantially horizontally and radially towards the outside of said shelf, said support structure comprises at least fixed sliding means and a fastening shuttle slidingly mounted with respect to said fixed sliding means through releasable constraining means, said at least heat conditioning member being integral with said fastening shuttle, said fastening shuttle furthermore including power supply socket/plug, for supply power to said at least heat conditioning member, apt to be connected to a power supply plug/socket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for the heat conditioning of an area around a shelf, such as a small catering table.

BACKGROUND ART

In general the present invention hence relates to the problem of local thermal conditioning, preferably heating, in correspondence of a shelf, such as for example a small table, which stands outside independently conditioned environments.

The most evident example relates to the outdoor tables or small tables in correspondence of which, during the winter season, it is possible to stay without inconvenience only in the presence of means capable of locally heating the environment surrounding the table. In any case, the term shelf is to be understood in a general sense, for example being able to also refer to a bed, deck chair, etc.

Examples known today of these means are the so-called “mushroom-shaped heaters” which consist of a sunshade structure on the top of which means are obtained which reflect the heat produced by a generator, mainly producing an irradiation directed downward or toward the surrounding area which gives a sensation of heat to the people close by.

Other similar devices consist of column burners wherein the flame is limited within a vertical, usually glass cylinder.

However, both these solutions, like all the ones which provide the presence of devices arranged in the vicinity of the table, solve the problem only partially and in an inconvenient manner.

As a matter of fact, the area most heated or irradiated by such devices is not the area close to the table, but the area close to the irradiating device.

Moreover, by these systems the table shelf acts as a barrier, which prevents the heating from reaching the sitting areas and hence the lower part of the guests' body.

In order to overcome such drawbacks, tables integrating, for example in the legs touching the ground, heating means, such as infrared plates, are nowadays available on the market.

These solutions on the one hand offer local heating at seat level, which is unpleasant and sometimes excessive, but also require non-negligible setting up and maintenance costs and do not allow to remove when required the heating means from the relative tables, for example at closing time of the shop in the evening. The economic value of these devices remains embedded in the table, with no opportunity for release during non-use (for example upon season change).

JPH01181039 discloses a fan system which is fastened underneath a small table. Next to the fan two fixed heating plates are also arranged. In the wintertime the plates are heated and the fan distributes hot air underneath the table. In the summertime, the plates remain switched off and the fan causes cooling air to circulate. Like the previous prior-art solutions, also this system is steadily fastened to the table. Moreover, the radiating plates, despite the fan presence, tend to unpleasantly concentrate the heat in the proximity of people's legs and are exposed to possible impacts which may cause burns. Finally, the only fan, necessarily directed downwards, due to distribution symmetry, does not allow to effectively distribute the heat to the various people sitting around the table and ends up lifting dust in an annoying manner.

Fully similar considerations apply also to DE924168.

DE202012004403U discloses a kind of heat distribution cabinet, apt to be mounted underneath a small table. This solution is highly complex, costly and bulky; moreover, it is affected by the problem indicated above, so that the table has no independent life regardless of the heating system which makes up the economically relevant component of the assembly.

Starting from such prior art, the object of the present invention is to supply a device for the local heat conditioning underneath a shelf which, at need, may be easily mounted and disassembled without requiring difficult manoeuvres, may be installed in tables already in use through minor arrangements and, of course, is particularly efficient and economic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first general aspect of the invention, the above-said objects are achieved by a device for the local heat conditioning around a shelf comprising

-   -   at least a heat conditioning member provided with heating means         and with an air moving fan, mounted underneath said shelf         through a support structure fastened to the lower surface of         said shelf, wherein     -   said heat conditioning member is mounted so that said fan         generates an air flow substantially directed horizontally and         radially outwards of said shelf,     -   said support structure comprises at least fixed sliding means         and a fastening shuttle slidably mounted with respect to said         fixed sliding means through releasable constraining means,     -   said at least one heat conditioning member being integral with         said fastening shuttle,     -   said fastening shuttle furthermore comprising a power supply         socket/plug, for supplying power to said at least one heat         conditioning member, apt to be connected to a power supply         plug/socket.

According to another aspect, the releasable constraining means are in the shape of a rail which can be slidably engaged with said fixed sliding means in the shape of a rail. According to a variant the fixed sliding means are a plurality, on which a corresponding plurality of independent heat conditioning members are constrained.

Preferably, at least two heat conditioning members are provided and the fastening shuttle is integral with a support plate, through a suspension column, which is provided with at least two receiving seats of said at least two heat conditioning members.

Preferably, said heat conditioning members can be associated with said plate in a releasable manner. Moreover, according to a variant the heat conditioning members are slidably and pivotally mounted with respect to said seats.

According to another aspect, the support structure is configured so that said fixed sliding means or said releasable constraining means can cantilever project from said shelf, so as to expose outside the perimeter of said shelf said releasable constraining means and to be able to manually act to fasten/unfasten said fastening shuttle.

According to a variant, the fixed sliding means are in the shape of a fixed rail and the releasable constraining means are in the shape of a sliding frame with which said shuttle is coupled through releasable engagement means.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to an outdoor catering table, comprising a support shelf and one or more support legs, which is equipped with a device as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention will be highlighted in the continuation of the description, of preferred embodiments of the invention to be understood as being nonlimiting examples, with reference to the attached schematic drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention wherein the device comprises a single heat conditioning member;

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment, wherein the support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of devices according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 to 6 show views according to various perspectives of a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the support structure supports a single apparatus on which a plurality of heat conditioning members is installed;

FIGS. 7-10 are perspective, top plan, side elevation and front elevation views, respectively, of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a mounting/disassembling attitude; and

FIGS. 11-12 are partial perspective views of the fourth embodiment of the invention in the last disassembling steps.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, 10 shows a device for the local heat conditioning underneath a shelf according to the present invention and 100 shows the shelf configured for receiving such device.

As shown in the drawings, device 10 comprises a fastening shuttle portion 11, to which an actual heat conditioning device 14 is hung or elsewise constrained.

The portion of fastening shuttle 11 is provided with constraining means 12 configured for coupling in a selectively releasable manner with corresponding receiving means arranged underneath shelf 100. Thereby the manual installation and removal of device 10 underneath shelf 100 is made possible.

In FIG. 1 heat conditioning member 14 is shown associated with the support structure, that is, with the fastening shuttle portion 11, through a suspension structure 13 in the shape of small cables, through which an electric conductor may also run for bringing power supply to conditioning member 14.

For the power supply to travel to conditioning member 14, a first end of an electric connector 15 integral with fastening shuttle portion 11 is furthermore provided.

Heat conditioning member 14 is typically a heater, configured as a housing provided with front and rear openings equipped with respective front and rear venting grids, within which electric heating resistances are arranged as well as a fan. Said fan sucks air from the rear grid and blows it out, once heated by the electric resistance, through the front grid. Heat conditioning member 14 is mounted on the support structure so that the fan blows air in a substantially horizontal and radial direction outwards (of the shelf underneath which it is meant to be mounted).

Preferably, the shuttle portion 11 comprises a cylindrical member above which constraining means 12 are obtained in the shape of a rail guide. In such embodiment electric connector 15 is directly associated with a first base of cylindrical member 11.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment wherein the device comprises a single heat conditioning member 14.

The shuttle portion 11 is designed to slide backwards and forwards along rail means 101 constrained on the lower side of a shelf 100, for example the shelf of a small table. As can be seen better also further on, in the fully backward position (shown in FIG. 2), shuttle 11 brings electric connector 15 into engagement with a corresponding supply socket 16. In the fully forward position (not shown) the shuttle brings itself into a position in which it can be easily disengaged from rail means 101 and hence released from the shelf (after having disconnected the two electric connectors 15 and 16).

Device 10 comprises at least a button 19 for the actuation of heat conditioning member 14, which can be installed on the same heat conditioning member 14 or, preferably, on shuttle 11.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which device 10 comprises a plurality of heat conditioning members 14, each one slidingly mounted on a corresponding rail means 101 of a support structure provided with a plurality of rail means 101 which radially extend from the central area of shelf 100 to the peripheral area. In the central area a connecting body is provided which houses the various supply sockets 16, on which a single power supply cable converges. Rail means 101 can also be arranged differently, for example mutually parallel in pairs, should the table shelf have a central leg or support column.

FIGS. 4-6 show a third embodiment of the invention, wherein each support device comprises a plurality (advantageously from two to four) of heat conditioning members. In this case, the shuttle portion 11 supports a central column 13 which in turn carries below a mounting plate 16.

Such plate 16 is provided with at least two seats 17 for receiving at least two heat conditioning members 14.

Preferably heat conditioning members 14 can be associated with plate 16 in a releasable manner; in particular the housing of each member 14 is slidingly mounted F longitudinally and pivoting R around an orthogonal axis with respect to said seats 17.

For the rest, the individual heat conditioning members 14 are as described for the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 it is shown, with more realistic views than in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support structure with rail means 101, the shuttle portion 11 constrained by fastening means 12 and power socket 16.

In order to ease the mounting/disassembling of shuttle 11 to/from rail means 101, it is provided that said rail means be configured in a telescopic manner, for example in two pieces, so that a portion may be withdrawn until bringing it to project cantilevered from shelf 100, as shown in FIG. 5. In such case, it is preferable that the power cable which carries the supply to electric socket 16 is an extensible cable.

In any case, preferably rail 12 is mounted in a disengageable manner from rail means 201. For example, the rail can be made to slide up to the terminal end of rail mains 101 and be longitudinally removed from here after having removed a travel end stop.

In FIGS. 7-12 a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown.

In this case, a plurality of heat conditioning members 204, built as described further above, are mounted, in a number varying from 2 to 4, on a common support plate 200, which is centrally fastened to a base pole 201 constrained to an above-lying support shuttle 202.

Support shuttle 202 is provided with releasable engagement means 203, by which it is apt to be constrained and released from a sliding frame 205. For example, releasable engagement means 203 are in the shape of pins with widened heads which can be inserted into eyelets 205, with a large entry and a narrower cut-out, obtained in frame 205. The coupling is obtained by insertion and sliding; in order to avoid accidental uncoupling, sliding can then be prevented by an actuatable/releasable stop.

As clearly shown in FIG. 12, sliding frame 205 is in turn slidingly mounted telescopically on a rail 206 fastened on the lower side of shelf 100.

Thereby, sliding frame 205 can be brought from a withdrawn position, which projects cantilevered from shelf 100 (as in FIGS. 7, 8, 11 and 12), to a fully inserted position, wherein it disappears underneath shelf 100. In the withdrawn position, the user can gain access to releasable engagement means 203, for unfastening shuttle 202 from frame 205 and disassembling the entire assembly” of heaters 204 constrained to support plate 200 (as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12). In the inserted position, frame 205 transfers heating members 204 into the central area underlying shelf 100.

In order to avoid an undesired movement of sliding frame 205, said frame is provided with releasable fastening means, such as a vertically moving pin 207 maintained in a lifted position by a spring, which engage with a corresponding seat in shelf 100 so as to inhibit any sliding of frame 205. In the same way, releasable engagement means 203 are configured so as to be able to be released, and hence to release shuttle 202 from frame 205, only by an active action by the user. Since the conditioning device is releasably mounted by the support structure, preferably between frame 205 and fixed guide/rail 206 and/or between shuttle 202 and frame 205 a coupling member which can be opened only with a key lock can be provided: this can be useful to prevent thefts.

It is fully evident that shelf 100 and the invention device contribute to the accomplishment of an improved table which can be used in a fully standard way and at the same time it can provide to condition, preferably to heat, the environment closest to the table, in particular under the shelf, in a highly efficient manner.

As a matter of fact, it is sufficient to constrain if needed the device to the guide underneath the shelf and to activate the heat conditioning members to reach the desired thermal condition. The heat conditioning members, acting exclusively by thermal convection, produce a pleasant air flow directed horizontally towards the users sitting around the table, producing an air flow which reaches the users' lower limbs and abdomen and which hence provides a pleasant comfort effect also in unfavourable environmental conditions. The entire heat conditioning assembly can be easily unconstrained from the table, due to the support structure of the invention, thus allowing to advantageously unconstrain the component with significant economic value from the table, when the use thereof is not necessary.

However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the special configurations illustrated above, which make up only non-limiting examples of the scope of the invention, but that a number of variants are possible, all within the reach of a person skilled in the field, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

For example, should a central leg of the shelf be provided, the fastening shuttle is configured so as to support two heat conditioning members at two laterally distanced positions, between which the space remains for the housing of the central leg. Consistently, by the term “radial direction” of the airflow or of the sliding movement of the fastening shuttle, not a geometric radial direction is strictly meant, but more generically a direction which produces a displacement from the central area of the shelf to the peripheral area thereof. 

1. A device for the local heat conditioning around a shelf comprising at least a heat conditioning member provided with heating means and with an air movement fan, mounted underneath said shelf through a support structure fastened to the lower surface of said shelf, wherein said heat conditioning member is mounted so that said fan generates an airflow directed substantially horizontally and radially towards the outside of said shelf, said support structure comprises at least fixed sliding means and a fastening shuttle slidingly mounted with respect to said fixed sliding means through releasable constraining means, said at least one heat conditioning member being integral with said fastening shuttle, said fastening shuttle furthermore comprising a power supply socket/plug, for supplying power to said at least one heat conditioning member, apt to be connected to a power supply plug/socket.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said releasable constraining means are in the shape of a rail slidingly engagable with said fixed sliding means in the shape of a rail means.
 3. The device claimed in 1, wherein said fixed sliding means are a plurality, on which a corresponding plurality of independent heat conditioning members is constrained.
 4. The device as claimed in 1, wherein there are provided at least two heat conditioning members, said fastening shuttle being being integral with a support plate through a suspension column, said plate being provided with at least two receiving seats of said at least two heat conditioning members.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said heat conditioning members can be associated with said plate in a releasable manner.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said heat conditioning members are slidable and pivotable with respect to said seats.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said support structure is configured so that said fixed sliding means or said releasable constraining means can cantilever project from said shelf, so as to expose outside the perimeter of said shelf said releasable constraining means and allow to act manually to fasten/unfasten said fastening shuttle.
 8. The device as claimed in 7, wherein said fixed sliding means are in the shape of a fixed rail and said releasable constraining means are in the shape of a sliding frame with which said shuttle is coupled through releasable engagement means.
 9. Outdoor catering table, comprising a support shelf and one or more support legs, wherein it is equipped with a device as claimed in claim
 1. 